Archive for the ‘Rugby’ Category

Duncan Weir will start at fly-half for Scotland against South Africa on Saturday after Finn Russell was confirmed as an injury absentee. Back-row Blair Cowan, who was called into the squad as an injury replacement, comes straight into a starting line-up showing 10 changes. Prop Gordon Reid and centre Richie Vernon will also make their first appearances of the Rugby …

Jonathan Joseph has been recalled to the England starting line-up in place of Sam Burgess for Saturday’s crucial game against Australia. The centre, 24, missed the World Cup hosts’ 28-25 defeat by Wales with a chest injury but will be back alongside Brad Barritt in midfield at Twickenham. Number eight Ben Morgan and lock Joe Launchbury replace injured pair Billy …

Wales coach Warren Gatland will be «laughing all the way to Twickenham» at the changes England are set to make for Saturday’s World Cup match, according to ex-Scotland captain Gavin Hastings. Meanwhile, injured centre Jonathan Joseph, 24, will be replaced by rugby league convert Sam Burgess, 26. «I think they have panicked with the selection,» Hastings told BBC Radio 5 …

Australia made a stuttering start to their World Cup campaign as they failed to earn a bonus point in their win against Pool A rivals Fiji in Cardiff. An even start saw Australia’s Bernard Foley and Fiji’s Nemani Nadolo trade penalties, before the Wallabies took control with two David Pocock tries. Prop Sekope Kepu stepped over from close range to …

When a coach has to apologise to a nation for the failings of his team, as Heyneke Meyer felt compelled to do after the Springboks’ discombobulating 34-32 defeat by Japan, you know things have gone more than a little bit wrong. They say rugby is a religion in South Africa. Well, at least they got a miracle. A miracle as …

Former world number one Tiger Woods will not play again this year after having back surgery for the second time in 18 months. The 39-year-old American, winner of 14 majors, had an operation on Wednesday and is hoping to return to playing in early 2016. Woods, who has had a small disc fragment pinching his nerve removed, will miss the Frys.com …

How do you start a tournament that has been talked about for four years, cost £150 million to host, seen 2.4 million tickets sold and begun with 80,000 people roaring from all sides of a sold-out stadium? By letting the kick-off bounce, as if it were an under-11s game on a muddy school playing field. England recovered from that inauspicious first act, …

England centre Sam Burgess has dismissed reports linking him with a return to the NRL with his former side, South Sydney Rabbitohs. Preparations for England’s Rugby World Cup opener against Fiji at Twickenham on Friday were interrupted by rumours from Australia which suggest that Burgess will return to the Rabbitohs. But the 26-year-old said the speculation is unfounded and insisted that he …

Argentina flanker Pablo Matera has labelled Pumas team-mate Marcos Ayerza as the world’s best scrummager ahead of the Rugby World Cup. Argentina kick off their RWC campaign against defending champions New Zealand at Wembley on Sunday and the South American are sure to focus on their ability at the set piece. With Leicester loosehead Ayerza partnered by a world-class hooker in …

by vlad on Сентябрь 15th, 2015 Комментарии к записи Marcos Ayerza is No 1 in the scrum отключены

Only four countries have won the Rugby World Cup in the competition’s history, but will this year see a new name being engraved on the William Webb Ellis Cup? Of the previous seven tournaments, six have been won by the Southern Hemisphere’s ‘Big Three’ of New Zealand, South Africa and Australia with two apiece. England are the only other side …

by vlad on Сентябрь 15th, 2015 Комментарии к записи Top 5 nations still to win a World Cup отключены